UCU Congress 2026
Congress is next week – it is a key point in the year when members get together and decide on what the national union should be doing. Congress must rise to the multiple challenges we face and vote for national strategies and action that can defend and protect post-16 education.
With the recent announcement that 24 universities could be insolvent in the next 12 months, and the wave of redundancies and course closures – the time is now for a national campaign. In Further and Adult education, underfunding and cuts is leading to a crisis in the sector. And this is all in the context of the growth of the far right and Reform UK, global instability due to Trump’s wars and economic uncertainty and attacks on our rights in the UK.
| UCU Left Congress caucus |
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| To discuss key debates and motions (for UCU Left members who are delegates at Congress). Tuesday 26th May, 5.30pm in the Ripley Suite, Crowne Plaza Harrogate, HG1 1XX (online option also available: https://tinyurl.com/c35vmxc3) |
UCU Left Public Meeting: Resilience and resistance in a time of crises
7pm Wednesday 27 May • Ripley Suite, Crowne Plaza, Harrogate HG1 1XX
Speakers: :
- Greyson Arnold, Uni of Minnesota Grad Labor Union
- Michael Goold, Garden Court Chambers
- Naina Kent, Hackney ACE
- & strikers from HE and FE
Anyone can join online: https://tinyurl.com/nhddpv22
Wars in the Middle East continue to rage, with devastation on a horrifying scale. While the UK governments, and others, attack the right to protest to in order to silence opposition. Reform UK and the far right have grown and become emboldened, exploiting fears and creating division. But resistance is possible. The anti-war movement in Britain continues to grow, people continue to strongly defend their right to protest and mass mobilisations have weakened the far right. When people organise collectively, we can fight back and win.
Across post-16 education, the crisis is deepening. Universities face financial collapse, pensions are under attack, adult education has been cut again, and FE remains chronically underfunded. We need collective action & solidarity to defend our sector and fight for the future of education.
Come and join the discussion about how we can organise and resist.